by John Hoty

Created on: May 16, 2009

Finding the best "cheap" red wine to pair with your meal or event is as easy as plucking a grape from the vine, so long as you follow a few simple rules. For starters, "cheap" doesn't always mean what it appears and when shopping for red wine it's best to refer to what your seeking as "inexpensive" or "modest." You walk into a wine shop and ask for a cheap bottle of red wine then you're most likely to be directed to the $5 rack where most of those bottles will be until they die. Rather you should approach the shop manager or assistant with a query like, "Can you recommend a decent, inexpensive bottle of red wine for my dinner party?" This way you appear to be concerned for not only the right wine to side with your meal, but also concerned about showing up with something that won't turn everyone's nose to the ceiling.

As a member of the Southern Wine & Spirits sales force for the past two years I was introduced to so many wines that it became hard to tell most of them apart... However, I found myself drawn to the more modestly priced wines that my customers were flipping for week after week. So began my own search to answer the call of the wild grapes: what makes these ostensibly "cheap" wines so much better than their high dollar counterparts? The answer, my fellow sippers, is all in the glass. Never be put off or let a merchant steer you away from purchasing a less expensive wine because of its name or growing region or the fact that is costs less than $10. You will discover along your quest that so many wines priced under $15 will undoubtedly become your favorites; returning time and again to their easy drinkability, conversational themes and characters, as well as their flat-out delectability.

Below is a list of some of the best red wines you will ever taste for under $20, so long as you avoid buying them in the grocery stores in favor of smaller local shops and neighborhood boutiques...

MERLOT:

Columbia Crest Grand Estates - From the great wine making state of Washington comes this bold and nuanced gem that boasts aromas of plum, nuts, vanilla and cherry. So smooth and so inviting every time, this will most likely become your go-to Merlot for just about any occasion. (Should be in the $10 to $12 range, though some stores - Total Wine - offer it for as low as $9!)

14 Hands - Another tasty treat from Washington, this seductive Merlot tastes as good as it smells! Big nose on this wine - everything from aromas of plum, chocolate, cherries

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